The 露担historical drama Pursuit of Jade, starring Zhang Linghe and Tian Xiwei, is currently airing. However, on Saturday, all 40 episodes were reportedly leaked — well ahead of the official release, which had only reached episode 30.
According to China Youth Daily, clips from the unreleased episodes were recorded and shared on video platforms, with many users in the comments asking for access to the full leak.
The incident drew sharp criticism from viewers concerned about copyright protection, with many urging others to reject pirated content and support official channels.
Li Zhenwu, a lawyer at Shanghai Lizhen Law Firm, said that those who copy and distribute unreleased episodes without authorization infringe on the rights holder's reproduction rights and right of communication through information networks. Anyone who uploads or shares links to pirated content — making it accessible to the public — is also directly liable for infringement.
If such acts are carried out for commercial purposes and reach a serious threshold, they may constitute copyright infringement under China's criminal code. Offenders can face three to ten years in prison and fines if the illegal gains are huge or the circumstances are especially serious.
Li noted that while individuals who stream pirated content for personal viewing are generally not considered direct infringers in current judicial practice, their actions still drive traffic and ad revenue to pirate sites, helping sustain the illegal industry. Choosing official platforms, he said, is a fundamental way to support creators.
Authorities also warned that fraudsters are exploiting viewers' eagerness to watch new episodes, posing as sources with early access and using fake screenshots to trick people into paying. The public is advised to watch only on official platforms and to be wary of any unsolicited offers claiming early access or promoting unknown apps.
The 露担historical drama Pursuit of Jade, starring Zhang Linghe and Tian Xiwei, is currently airing. However, on Saturday, all 40 episodes were reportedly leaked — well ahead of the official release, which had only reached episode 30.
According to China Youth Daily, clips from the unreleased episodes were recorded and shared on video platforms, with many users in the comments asking for access to the full leak.
The incident drew sharp criticism from viewers concerned about copyright protection, with many urging others to reject pirated content and support official channels.
Li Zhenwu, a lawyer at Shanghai Lizhen Law Firm, said that those who copy and distribute unreleased episodes without authorization infringe on the rights holder's reproduction rights and right of communication through information networks. Anyone who uploads or shares links to pirated content — making it accessible to the public — is also directly liable for infringement.
If such acts are carried out for commercial purposes and reach a serious threshold, they may constitute copyright infringement under China's criminal code. Offenders can face three to ten years in prison and fines if the illegal gains are huge or the circumstances are especially serious.
Li noted that while individuals who stream pirated content for personal viewing are generally not considered direct infringers in current judicial practice, their actions still drive traffic and ad revenue to pirate sites, helping sustain the illegal industry. Choosing official platforms, he said, is a fundamental way to support creators.
Authorities also warned that fraudsters are exploiting viewers' eagerness to watch new episodes, posing as sources with early access and using fake screenshots to trick people into paying. The public is advised to watch only on official platforms and to be wary of any unsolicited offers claiming early access or promoting unknown apps.
